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Move the Yardsticks

What Does "Move the Yardsticks" Mean?

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"Move the yardsticks" is an English idiom. It means "similar to 'move the goalposts', it means to change the criteria or standards for determining success or achievement."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "move the yardsticks" used in a sentence:
  • The company always moves the yardsticks when it comes to promotion.
  • It's demotivating when the school keeps moving the yardsticks for passing.
  • Achieving success is hard when you don't know if someone will move the yardsticks.
meaning for move the yardsticks

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Move the Yardsticks" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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